Paying online?

The City of Denver recently implemented a security enhancement to better protect our online payment processing system. As a result of this enhancement, we are no longer able to accept payments from non-current browsers. If you are using an older browser version, please upgrade your browser to the most current version so that you can access the online payment service.

On the last Saturday of each month, Park Rangers and Friends of Red Rocks partner to clean and rebuild the park and ampitheater after heavy monthly use. Contact tina.myers@denvrgov.org for more information.

Volunteers are needed to assist recreation staff with serving free meals to youth, which could include breakfast, lunch, snacks or supper. Free meal programs are often accompanied with fun recreational activities, so there are additional volunteer opportunities in that area as well.

Program Enrichment Volunteers enhance our after school and summer camp programs by bringing innovative and interesting activities to the youth participants. Whether it be sewing, puppet making, magic, art, or other specialized area of interest, Denver Parks and Recreation would welcome your talents. Interested individuals will be required to have a background check.

Volunteers for Cleaning will help keep your neighborhood recreation center spotless by providing assistance with custodial duties. Flexibility in schedule is a plus, but not needed. A background check is required of all recreation center volunteers.

Created in 2011 by the Denver Parks & Recreation Ranger Program in partner with BikeDenver, the Volunteer Courtesy Patrol is comprised of more than 100 volunteers who:

Model good park and trail use behavior

Provide information to park and trail visitors

Inform park and trail visitors of potential safety risks

Provide medical and mechanical bike assistance as-needed

Report maintenance issues to Parks staff

Support/supplement Park Ranger efforts in highly-used areas such as Cherry Creek and S. Platte River Trails, Washington Park, City Park, High Line Canal, etc.

Volunteers receive a uniform and other items to assist with fulfilling volunteer duties along with various trainings through the year.

Time Commitment

Volunteers are expected to patrol 30 hours per year.

Volunteering is preferred when parks and trails are busiest, but can be completed any day of the week during daylight hours. This could include time on a bicycle commuting to and from work.

Volunteers may patrol by bicycling, hiking, or from a fixed location. If patrolling on bike, volunteers are required to use their own bicycle and helmet.

Get Involved

Each year, 30-40 people are accepted into the program. Recruitment occurs throughout the year-- apply now. The VCP season starts each spring after volunteers accepted into the program complete training.

We hope to sign up volunteers who are passionate about Denver parks and trails, enjoy working with people, and who want to take an active role in caring for these areas.

All volunteers must undergo a thorough background check. Verification of identification as well as 7 years of residency is required. Youth volunteers (under 18) will be required to have a parent signature in order to complete the process. Please complete the application and areas of interest including preferred park or region of the city. If your skills match the needs within a park, program area or at a facility, you will be contacted for an interview and to complete the background authorization and waiver of liability prior to being assigned. Volunteers may need to attend additional training as required by the department.

Qualifications: Reliability, willingness to help out where needed, friendly, considerate, a strong interest for flowers and ability to work with people.

Time Commitment: 8-24 hours a week from May-October

Benefits: This position provides the opportunity to develop professional job skills and gain experience in the areas of horticulturist, customer services, and knowledge of plants. This position takes place in a fun and creative environment with the opportunity to network with professionals in the Parks as well as make a difference in our community.

Park staff will work closely with volunteer during daily parks duties.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement with 5 days of receipt in our office.

All volunteers must undergo a thorough background check. Verification of identification as well as 7 years of residency is required. Youth volunteers (under 18) will be required to have a parent signature in order to complete the process. Please complete the application and areas of interest including preferred park or region of the city. If your skills match the needs within a park, program area or at a facility, you will be contacted for an interview and to complete the background authorization and waiver of liability prior to being assigned. Volunteers may need to attend additional training as required by the department.

Natural Areas VolunteerThe Natural Areas Program’s mission is to establish and maintain sustainable and healthy ecosystems including natural areas and waterways, generate well-informed and satisfied residents, and construct broad collaborations that make it all happen. Unlike traditional developed parks, the natural area sites are guided, developed and sustained more by natural processes and not by mans’ horticultural activities.

Responsibilities: The Natural Areas Volunteer will assist staff and our Horticultural Worker with weeding, seeding, equipment preparation and maintenance. He/she will actively participate and assist the Horticultural Worker in these ecological projects. Restoration is accomplished by utilizing some of these procedures: Cultural methods such as controlled watering, tilling, among others

Qualifications: Reliability, willingness to help out where needed, friendly and considerate, good communication and problem-solving skills, good follow-through, a strong interest in the outdoors and ability to work with people. Training provided.

Benefits: This position provides the opportunity to develop professional job skills and gain experience in the areas of natural areas management, customer services, knowledge of ecosystems, an increased knowledge in outdoor stewardship, and the opportunity to work in outdoor habitat. This position takes place in a fun and creative environment with the opportunity to network with professionals in the Parks as well as make a difference in our community.

Park staff will work closely with volunteer during daily parks duties.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement with 5 days of receipt in our office.

All volunteers must undergo a thorough background check. Verification of identification as well as 7 years of residency is required. Youth volunteers (under 18) will be required to have a parent signature in order to complete the process. Please complete the application and areas of interest including preferred park or region of the city. If your skills match the needs within a park, program area or at a facility, you will be contacted for an interview and to complete the background authorization and waiver of liability prior to being assigned. Volunteers may need to attend additional training as required by the department.

Qualifications: Reliability, willingness to help out where needed, friendly and considerate, good communication and problem-solving skills, good follow-through, a strong interest in the outdoors and ability to work with people. Training provided.

Time Commitment: 8-20 hours a week: Year Round

Benefits: This position provides the opportunity to develop professional job skills and gain experience in the areas of landscape maintenance, customer service, and knowledge of the City and County of Denver expansive park system.

This position takes place in an outdoor environment, weather and safety concerns can affect work schedules. The opportunity to network with professionals in landscaping as well as make a difference in our community can be priceless.

Park staff will work closely with volunteer during daily parks duties.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement with 5 days of receipt in our office.

All volunteers must undergo a thorough background check. Verification of identification as well as 7 years of residency is required. Youth volunteers (under 18) will be required to have a parent signature in order to complete the process. Please complete the application and areas of interest including preferred park or region of the city. If your skills match the needs within a park, program area or at a facility, you will be contacted for an interview and to complete the background authorization and waiver of liability prior to being assigned. Volunteers may need to attend additional trainings as required by the department.

Forestry Field VolunteerVolunteers are needed to perform an ongoing count of the current conditions of Ash trees in Denver’s park and parkway system; to perform a visual delimiting survey of Emerald Ash Borer population.

Qualifications: Dependable, friendly, some knowledge of trees and horticulture and knowledge of Denver Park system.

Time Commitment: 10 – 12 hours per week (June-August)

Benefits: This position provides the opportunity to develop professional job skills and gain experience in the areas of arboriculture, integrated plant management and resource management. This position takes place in an outdoor environment, weather and safety concerns can affect work schedules. The opportunity to network with professionals in arboriculture and urban forestry as well as make a difference in our community can be priceless.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement with 5 days of receipt in our office.

Denver Parks & Recreation(DPR) recognizes the need and benefits of clean dog parks. DPR established the Adopt-A-Dog Park program to enable civic groups, individuals and businesses to help keep their Dog Park clean.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement within 5 days of your application/agreement.

Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) established the Adopt-A-Park program to enable civic groups, individuals and businesses to help keep their park and community beautiful. Adopting groups work with DPR by volunteering a minimum of three days per year on park enhancement projects. Projects include:

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement within 5 days of receipt of your signed application/agreement.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement within 5 days of receipt of your application.

Denver Parks and Recreation recognizes the need and benefits of a clean and litter free trail. Denver has established an Adopt-a-Trail program to enable civic groups, families, individuals and businesses to help keep their trail and community beautiful.

The adopter agrees to:

provide volunteer support for maintenance of litter

weeding

sweeping and picking up glass

trimming branches as needed (with the assistance of the Park Horticulturist)

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities to match your interest areas. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement with 5 days of receipt in our office.

Upon receipt of your application, the volunteer office will review your application and determine if there are any volunteer opportunities that match your areas of interest indicated. You will be contacted either by phone or email with information regarding your potential volunteer placement with 24 hours of receipt in our office.